A Williston shooting range has filed a lawsuit against the town after the club received two citations for noise ordinance violations.

The lawsuit, filed June 16 on behalf of the North Country Sportsman's Club and its members, accuses the Town of Williston of "infringement of constitutional right to bear arms" and "malicious prosecution/ abuse of process."

The club, which offers trap shooting to about 100 members and guests, has been open for approximately 50 years.

The case stems from the termination of agreement regarding the club's operating hours that town officials say is necessary as part of the town's noise ordinance, which was adopted in 2014.

Without an agreement for operating hours, police can issue tickets to the club for nuisance complaints, said Richard McGuire, town manager.

Bob Otty, president of the club's board, said the town could be overstepping its boundaries by asking for an agreement and is not complying with a 1988 Vermont statute that prevents municipalities from regulating the firing of guns at existing shooting ranges.

"The likelihood of seeing eye to eye on each side's rights and responsibilities in the situation just isn't there," Otty said. "We decided a judge would be the one to have to decide who is in the right here."

The lawsuit states that the town's efforts to "restrict the club's operation of the range unreasonably restricts its members' constitutional right to bear arms, causing damages to club members."

The lawsuit alleges that the town is overstepping its authority by prohibiting, reducing or limiting discharge at the range, and states that issuing citations for noise ordinance violations is outside of the town's scope.

McGuire said town officials hope to gain compliance with ordinances.

"It's pretty simple," he said. "We're not really asking them to change what they had been doing before they canceled the agreement."

"We're always open for discussions and settlement," he added, referring to an agreement of operating hours. "We're still open to that."

For nearly two decades the club has operated from 4 p.m. until dusk on Wednesdays, and from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sundays. The club also gives town officials 48 hours notice for any special events, such as Saturday trap shooting events.

The club has continued to operate the same hours without a formal agreement, Otty said. He was unaware of any recent visits from police.

No hearings have been scheduled in the lawsuit, according to the court calendar.

The claim seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages, attorney's fees and costs, and any further relief the court deems just and appropriate.

This story was first published on June 24, 2015. Contact Haley Dover at 660-1850 or hdover@freepressmedia.com. Follow Haley on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HaleyRDover.